František Sláma was born on November 19, 1923, in Herálec, Czechoslovakia, and was a cellist. He worked in a quarry until age 18 before meeting Karel P. Sádlo, who introduced him to the cello and supported his musical education at the Conservatoire from 1942 to 1948 and the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague between 1948 and 1952. Sláma joined the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra in 1948, becoming sub-principal cello and section leader by 1962. He was a founding member of Talich's Czech Chamber Orchestra in 1946 and performed with Pro Arte Antiqua from 1953 to 1976 and Ars Rediviva between 1954 and 1997, leading the latter after Milan Munclinger died in 1986. With these ensembles, Sláma recorded extensively for labels including Supraphon and DGG, earning awards such as the Grand Prix du Disque. He also taught at the Conservatoire in Prague from the 1970s. Sláma passed away on May 5, 2004.
